Diageo’s Don Julio Blanco becomes first tequila to get Environmentally Responsible Agave certification

Diageo has announced that a batch of its Don Julio Blanco tequila is the first tequila product to receive the Environmentally Responsible Agave (ARA, acronym in Spanish) certification from the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) and the Government of the State of Jalisco, Mexico.

The announcement was made during COP26 in Glasgow by the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Jalisco, Sergio Humberto Graf Montero. The ARA certification assures consumers that the tequila they are drinking has been manufactured in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner with no deforestation in the production process.

Don Julio obtained the certification after successfully completing the requirements, and Diageo said it will continue to produce batches at the ARA standards.

“At Diageo we are committed to pioneering grain to glass sustainability to protect our environment and inspire change as part of our Society 2030 commitments. We are very proud of obtaining the ARA certification for a batch of Don Julio Blanco tequila, as well as for being the first in Mexico to receive it,” Ewan Andrew, chief sustainability officer and president, global supply chain & procurement at Diageo.

“This certification is a great step forward for sustainability in the tequila industry and we’re committed to contributing to a better future for all through environmentally-friendly agricultural and production processes.”

Diageo’s 2030 goals include achieving net zero in direct operations, a 30 per cent reduction in the amount of water used to produce each drink and supporting more than 150,000 small holder farmers to regenerate their land and enhance biodiversity.